MORE than £250,000 changed hands at the Carlhurlie Aberdeen-Angus dispersal, staged on behalf of the executors of the late Rae Grieve, at United Auctions, Stirling, which saw trade peak at 11,500gns with a further four lots selling at 5000gns or more.

The herd which has enjoyed notable success in the past to include several Highland and bull sale championships under Alistair and Doreen Cormack's management, saw a lead price of 11,500gns paid for a 21/2-year-old in-calf heifer, with another similarly aged heifer at 10,000gns.

Sale leader was the May 2014-born Carlhurlie Darcy P028, a Skaill Dido daughter, out of Carlhurlie Dardanius, by Blelack Blackstock. She changed hands in calf to the 24,000gns Tonley Evor, to Alistair and Graeme Fraser, buying for their Idvies herd, Forfar, Angus.

Minutes later, the similarly aged Carlhurlie Erstic P035, made 10,000gns selling in the same direction with Stuart Raeburn, Burnside of Tulloes, Letham, Angus. The breeding behind this in-calf heifer includes Wedderlie Posse onto the Penguin Eldorado daughter, Carlhurlie Eriskay. Again the service sire was Tonley Evor which at 21/2 years, later sold for 4500gns to Willie Shaw, Wester Lethans, Dunfermline.

Leading the maiden heifers at 7000gns was the 20-month-old Carlhurlie Quintessa R081. Another by Skaill Dido, she is bred from the Blelack Blackstock daughter, Carlhurlie Quince and sold to new breeders, the Wilsons, who are better known for their pedigree dairy cattle based at Carskerdo, Cupar, Fife.

The same buyers also went to 3800gns for Carlhurlie Darcie S134, a six-month-old heifer calf by Dido, and bred from Carlhurlie Dardanius.

The cattle, which were brought out by Richard and Carol Rettie's team from Alloa, also saw 4500gns bid for Carlhurlie Eon R096, another 18-month-old maiden heifer by Dido, out of a home-bred Blackstock daughter. She headed home south with Shadwell Estate, Norfolk.

Amongst the mature cows, outfits peaked at 8500gns with Donald Rankin of the Isle of Skye-based Kilmaluag herd paying 6500gns for the 41/2-year-old cow, Carlhurlie Elixir M889. This Penguin Eldorado daughter, is out of a Blackstock dam and in calf to Balmachie Black Bard M135. Her six-month-old bull calf, by Dido made 2000gns to George Milne, Kinaldy, Fife.

Next at 4500gns, the Lane family who run the Rosslayne herd, at Lockerbie, Dumfries, bought the June 2010-born Carlhurlie Quieto K803, another Penguin daughter, this time out of Carlhurlie Queen, by Skaill Express. She sold with March-born bull calf at foot by Balmachie Black Bard and in calf to Tonley Evor.

Matching that bid, David Walker, Galcantray, Nairn, bought Carlhurlie Eolian P046, another 21/2-year-old in-calf heifer by Dido, bred from a home-bred Blackstock daughter. Again the service sire was Evor.

Just behind, on 4000gns, the similarly aged in-calf heifer, Carlhurlie Blackberry P020, by Dido and out of a Carlhurlie Black Swan daughter, sold to Andrew Mylius, St Fort, Newport on Tay, Fife.

Bulls hit a top price of 8000gns paid for the herd stock bull Balmachie Black Bard M125. This rising five-year-old which was reserve senior champion at the Stirling bull sales in February, 2014, is by Balmachie Black Bear and out of Netherton Blackbird H489 sold to G and W Henderson for the Culrain herd based at Culrain Mains, Ardgay, Sutherland.

Northern Ireland breeder, James Porter, Lisburn, Co Antrim, then went to 5000gns for Carlhurlie Epic P021, a 21/2-year-old by Skaill Dido, out of a Blelack Eagle daughter.

Auctioneers: United Auctions